49er Ray McDonald arrested in domestic violence case

McDonald is arrested in domestic violence case

Updated 11:39 pm, Sunday, August 31, 2014

Photo: Associated Press

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San Francisco 49er defensive end Ray McDonald is seen in an undated photo provided by the San Jose Police Department. McDonald, 29, was arrested early Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 by San Jose Police on felony domestic violence charges. San Jose police Sgt. Heather Randol says McDonald was taken into custody after officers responded to a home in an upscale neighborhood. (AP Photo/San Jose Police Department) less

San Francisco 49er defensive end Ray McDonald is seen in an undated photo provided by the San Jose Police Department. McDonald, 29, was arrested early Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 by San Jose Police on felony domestic ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Defensive tackle Ray McDonald catches his breath in between wind sprint drills at an informal workout for 49ers players at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. Quarterback Alex Smith organized the unofficial practice sessions to keep players in shape during the ongoing NFL lockout. less

Defensive tackle Ray McDonald catches his breath in between wind sprint drills at an informal workout for 49ers players at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. Quarterback Alex Smith ... more

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

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Ian Williams (93) and Ray McDonald (91) stood together as practice began in Santa Clara, Calif. The San Francisco 49ers held their first practice since returning from Baltimore Wednesday August 13, 2014.

Ian Williams (93) and Ray McDonald (91) stood together as practice began in Santa Clara, Calif. The San Francisco 49ers held their first practice since returning from Baltimore Wednesday August 13, 2014.

Photo: Brant Ward, San Francisco Chronicle

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This is a 2012 photo of Ray McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers NFL football team. This image reflects the San Francisco 49ers active roster as of Thursday, May 10, 2012 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

This is a 2012 photo of Ray McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers NFL football team. This image reflects the San Francisco 49ers active roster as of Thursday, May 10, 2012 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Photo: Uncredited, ASSOCIATED PRESS

49er Ray McDonald arrested in domestic violence case

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Defensive tackle Ray McDonald of the 49ers was released on bail Sunday after being arrested earlier in the morning on suspicion of felony domestic violence, San Jose police said.

Officers were called around 2:45 a.m. to a home in the 2500 block of Bentley Ridge Drive in San Jose's upscale Silver Creek neighborhood, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Heather Randol. After a brief investigation by police, McDonald, 29, was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on $25,000 bail.

Authorities would not elaborate on the circumstances leading to the arrest, but in domestic violence cases, the victim is a spouse, a person in a dating relationship or a person living with the suspect, Randol said.

McDonald allegedly had an altercation with his fiancee, whom a police source said is 10 weeks pregnant, according to the Sacramento Bee. She reportedly showed police minor bruises on her arms and neck, and McDonald was arrested.

He is due in court Sept. 15.

"I can't say too much, not right now, but the truth will come out," McDonald told television reporters upon his release, according to the Associated Press. "Everybody knows the kind of person that I am. I'm a good-hearted person."

Niners general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement: "The 49ers organization is aware of the recent reports regarding Ray McDonald and we take such matters seriously. As we continue to gather the facts, we will reserve further comment."

McDonald was arrested in 2010 for driving under the influence in San Mateo County and again in 2012 on an outstanding warrant from that arrest.

Last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell instituted harsher penalties for all league employees involved in assault, battery, domestic violence or sexual assault. First-time offenders will receive a six-game suspension. A second offense will result in a lifetime ban. Goodell adopted the harsher penalties after he suspended Ravens running back Ray Rice for two games in July for knocking his then-fiancee unconscious, a punishment the commissioner later acknowledged was too lenient.

McDonald, who has started 45 of 48 games since 2011, is an integral part of a defense that will open the season without All-Pro linebackers Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman.

On Friday, Smith was suspended for nine games for violations of the NFL's personal-conduct policy and substance-abuse policy. Bowman is on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury and will miss at least the first six games.

The 49ers were roundly criticized in September when they allowed Smith to play every defensive snap in a loss to the Colts two days after he was arrested for his second DUI. Smith checked himself into a rehabilitation facility and missed the next five games.

Since January 2012, the 49ers have a league-high 10 arrests, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune database that tracks NFL arrests. Six of those arrests have come from Smith and McDonald. Since January, four players have been arrested: Smith, McDonald, cornerback Chris Culliver and center Daniel Kilgore.

Culliver was arrested on charges of misdemeanor hit-and-run and felony possession of brass knuckles in March. Kilgore was arrested for public intoxication in January. His case was dismissed in April.

In May, head coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged his team had fallen short of his stated goal to be "above reproach."

"We've got some things that we've got to resolve," he said. "But we are in a process, and always are in a process, of striving to be above reproach."

Former 49ers safety Donte Whitner said in 2012 that Harbaugh told his players that violence against women will not be tolerated.

"He said that we can do anything in the world and we can come and talk to him and he'll forgive us except put our hands on women," Whitner said then. "If you put your hand on a woman, then you're done in his book."

Since 2011, the 49ers have had one of the NFL's most dominating defenses: They haven't ranked lower than third in the league in points allowed per game in that span.

In addition to the absences of Smith and Bowman, nose tackle Glenn Dorsey is expected to be sidelined until mid-November with a torn biceps. The 49ers have two backup defensive linemen, Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial, who are expected to assume larger roles this season. The 2013 draft picks played only 19 snaps - all by Dial - in 2013 because of injuries they suffered in college.

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